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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

New Midsize Sedan Aims for Compact Car Efficiency

Mazda is using the umbrella term Skyactiv to describe all the tricks and innovations it will use to improve new-car efficiency, and the latest recipient of those upgrades is the 2014 Mazda6 sedan. This new car is designed from the ground-up to incorporate the Skyactiv suite of technologies that include reducing weight and increasing efficiency. The new Mazda6 debuted publicly at the Moscow International Automobile Salon 2012, and goes on sale globally later this year.

Mazda had dropped strong hints about the design of the new Mazda6 with its previous Takeri concept, and much of that language has made its way to the production car. As the CX-5 did, the 2014 6 follows Mazda's new kodo design philosophy. The semi-circle front grille, angled headlights with chrome eyebrows, and angular lower fascia are all reminiscent of the CX-5. As on the Takeri concept, aggressive flares over the front wheels taper softly into the front doors. The headlights get Mazda's first-ever use of LEDs, for a halo ring illumination. While the front half of the 6 has plenty of styling drama, the rear is much more sedate. The roofline and rear glass slope gently into a stubby trunk with an integrated spoiler. Narrow taillights wrap onto each fender, and a silver chrome strip connects the lights above the license-plate indentation.

The sheetmetal is built on a new Skyactiv-Body principle that uses more high-stength steel than the old Mazda6, allowing the car to be lighter yet 30-percent stiffer than its predecessor. Measuring 191.5 inches in length, the new sedan is about two inches shorter than the outgoing model, but Mazda says that better packaging and a slightly longer wheelbase improve interior room. Rear-seat legroom grows by 1.5 inches while knee room increases 1.7 inches. The trunk opening is 1.25 inches wider, and it uses a "swan" hinge that doesn't impede on cargo room.

The cabin itself is smart but understated. The instrument cluster has a three-binnacle design, with the right-most spot occupied by 3.5-inch LCD trip computer. The tidy center stack, large touch-screen radio, and clear three-dial climate controls. The interior is composed mostly of dark plastics, but satin metal trim pieces help break it up and keep the design from being too dull. All cabin materials should be pleasant to touch and well put-together.

Mazda will install the "i-Activsense" on All new 2014 Mazda 6. This new technology is the latest series of Mazda's safety technologies to help drivers anticipate risk of collision. The technology is part of the safety system called the "Mazda Proactive Safety".

As reported from mazda.com, this technology will include some supporting features such as Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC), Forward Obstruction Warning (Fow), Lane Departure, Warning System (lows), Rear Vehicle Monitoring (RVM), High Beam Control System (HBC), Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), Smart Brake Support (SBS), and Smart City Brake Support (SCBS).

At least in Russia, the 2014 Mazda 6 gets the new range of Skyactiv engines, including the 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G (gas) engine that makes 148 horsepower, sending power to the front wheels through either a six-speed Skyactiv-Drive automatic, or a six-speed Skyactiv-MT manual gearbox. The uprated engine is a Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter unit, developing 189 horsepower. This engine is mated to the aforementioned automatic. A diesel engine is also expected, but it's not yet clear whether the U.S. will receive an oil-burning option (Mazda has committed to bringing an unnamed diesel model to the States in the next few years). *** [MOTOR TREND | MAZDA | GI | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 28092012]

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